Flume



July 6, 1948.

W. E. WILSON FLUME Filed Sept. 17, 1945 A INVENTOR. W//V/-"RE D E. WILSON.

for use in supportingthefiume; and

Patented July 6, 1948 UNITED STATES #PATNT OFFICE- rWinfred E; Wilson, North Hollywood, Calif., as-

signor-of one-half to :Nina Mae Wilson ApplicationSeptember 17, 1945, Serial No. 616,737

5 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to time construction of a type which is standardized as to section and maybe readily joined with like flume sections to any length desired.

In many localities makeshift flumes are con structed for the purpose of sluicing wood to mills. Some 'of these flumes are constructed of two boards to form ,a V trough. These boards rapidly wear in actual use, leak badly, and must be replaced after a short time. Furthermore, fiumes of this character must be supported at their ends and intermediately thereof.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a flume construction which overcomes the inconvenience and difiiculties above mentioned, which is light in weight, readily resists wear over an extended period of time,does not require intermediate supports, does not leak and resists decay.

Other objects include a flume construction which is inexpensive in cost of manufacture, which is capable of being stacked one within the other to thereby save space, readily assembledand disassembled, and Whichis generally superior in durability to flumes now known to the inventor.

Whereas the average flume when worn must have such parts'removed, thus causing a dismantling of the flume, the present invention incorporates a construction which does not require that the flume sections be separated, as the worn portion in any one section of 1a flume is readily replaceable. Thus an extended shutting down of the operation of the flume or any eX- tensive repairs thereto is unnecessary.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two sections of flume incorporating :the improved invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrating a portion of the flume construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevationshowing one method of interconnecting and supporting two flume sections;

Fig. 5 is a-fragmentary detail on an enlarged scale of .a lap joint between two flume sections;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a trestle member Fig. '7 is a cross sectional detail similar. to Fig. 2 and showing application of a liner, member within a flume section.

Referring now to .the-drawmg: .The improved flume is designated-aszant en-.' 1

. tirety wa'nd in onev embodiment by the numeral I,

and said flume is made up of'sections such+as are shown in Fig. 1, at 2 and 3, which are-adapted to be interconnected at their ends to-form a vLflume of any length desired." The flume or'the present invention is adapted to lie closeto the ground and is so constructedand arranged as not to require any intermediatesupportsythe supports or trestles being positioned: at the abut- 10 ting or interconnected ends of apair of sections,

as for instance illustrated in Fig. 1, at 4. The ..flume sections are preferably formed of plywood, the plywood being characteri'zedv by the use-of waterproof glue in: the securing together ofthe laminae. Such a plywood structure is conthat .a flume of hyperbolic or parabolic crosssection, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is efficient in actual use, as thesmall radiusof curvature for the base J 8 is most efficient for-handling small flows of; wa-

ter. The upper edgesof sides 6 and l carry members 9. Members 9 act tostabilize the flume sections,.and said members constitute a-'-block which islongitudinally grooved at ill, to provide .two legs Hand length than the leg IL,

I2, the leg'l2 being 'of greater A portion of the-upper edge of each flume side is received in the-said groove. The members 9 extendthe length of-the side walls of the flume sectionyas illustrated in Fig. 1. Each flume section is provided with ribs: l3, which ribs conform to the transverse section 0f the .fiume and may be glued or other- .wiseheld thereto. One ofsaid ribs l3 isspaced inwardly from one end of the side. wall,- as shown at'il3a, while a rib at the opposite enact the same section has a portion thereof extending beyondv the end of the sidewall, asshown at --l3b.

.. Thepurpose of this arrangement of the-ribs'on the flume. sections will be detailed late'rJ'The ends of said ribs are in abutting relationship with thev leg or lip ends I2 of the longitudinallyextending members 9. This constructionacts "to stabilize and stiffen the flume section and thus overcome the necessity of providing any means intermediate the section ends for supportingthe section.

I: may increase the number ofplysxadjacent .the base portion 8 of the flumeysection, as-indi- ".cated .at M. This is'a;furth-er.stabilizingxfactor forthe flume section.

T 'When, small? objects are. sluiced v through the ordinary name these objects strike the" walls 'of the fiume and wear the fiume in spots, requiring the replacement of such members. I have found it expedient in the present invention to provide in the fiume section a liner l 5, which is hardened to Withstand wear. This liner corresponds to the curvature of the side walls and base as shown in Fig. 2. The liner may be of a material such as highly compressed and impregnated wood,"'Masonite or a similar product, the intent being to provide a material which not only resists wear but is not subject to rot. This liner may be preformed, or may be a flexible sheet which permits its bending to form, in which instance the sheet has one of its elongated edges in abutment with the edge of leg or lip H, as shown at I6, whereupon the liner is pressed downwardly against one of the walls of the fiume and the other end portion is then bent under the edge of leg H, as for instance illustrated in Fig. 7. This will hold the liner securely in position of service. This liner is adapted to extend the length of the side walls and base of the fiume section.

When it is desired to interconnect contiguous ends of a pair of fiume sections, the end rib shown at 13b abuts against the rib on the next section, shown at l3a. The end I! of the fiume section'which extends beyond the rib shown at I30, overlaps the rib shown at l3b on the adjoining section. The two sections may be held together by means of a bridging piece which may extend between the members l3, or by using trestles of the type shown in Fig. 6. Trestles or supports of the type shown in Fig. 6 may constitute plywood members which are cut at l8, the

. .form of the cut corresponding to the transverse section of the fiume shown in Fig. 2. This trestle has a portion extending below the cut I8, to wit:

' the part 19, which functions as a support or elevational means for a fiume section. Preferably I use two of the members shown in Fig. 6 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, at 20 and 2!, wherein the portions bounding the cut KB of each of said members engage the inner edges of members [3 of a pair of rib-lapped fiume sections. A spacer block 22 is positioned between members 20 and 2|, and a bolt 23, or other means, is passed through said members and secured by nut 24. The fiume sections are thereby interlocked and the pair of trestles support the fiume above the earth or other structure over which the fiume is passed.

It is of course evident that a fiume of this V character will not have any leaks along a section, for the reason that the side walls and base are preformed and are in one piece. The average V-type fiume consisting of two parts securedtogether at the apex of the V constantly leaks at this zone, and such leakage induces rot, warping of the members, splitting of the timber and rapid deterioration of the fiume section.

.While I have shown the liner l5 as separable from a fiume section, yet it is apparent that such a liner may be integrally incorporated in the section, such as by gluing or otherwise securing the same.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows:

As previously stated, the fiume sections may qbe of any length desired, although the length i should not be so great as to cause any sag when a section is carrying water.

Generally I have found it expedient to provide a section of twentyfoot length 7 or under. These. sections may be nested together when not in use,.-and when ready.

for erection the sections are joined by lapping the ends in the manner illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The liners 15 may be inserted or form an integral part of the fiume sections, although I have found it expedient to insert the liners after the erection of the fiume sections, as the liner will be the portion which will wear and hence is the portion to be replaced without the necessity'of tearing down the fiume sections. Thus whereas in the ordinary fiume the fiume must be shut down for a period of time while the sections are being replaced, the present construction does not require any lengthy shutdown. All that it is necessary to do is to remove the liner from a section or sections and replace with a new liner or liners, which may be quickly done by a single worker.

It is obvious that trestles other than of the form shown in Fig. 6 may be utilized as supports for the flume sections. I have found, however, that a trestle of the type shown in the drawing aids materially in maintaining the integrity of the sections and in addition acts to-lock the ends of the sections in Working relationship.

It is expected that some care will be exercised in forming the flume sections so-that the ends thereof will be in right angular relationship to the side. Thus when the fiume sections are brought into juxtaposition and abutting end relationship the rib I3?) acts to close the joint between the abutting ends, and when the ribs are locked together leakage will not occur between the ends.

I claim:

1. In means of the character disclosed, a fiume section formed of plywood, longitudinal members carried on said section and functioning to increase the thickness of the section along edges thereof, and extending along the inside of the fiume, and a liner within said plywood section and maintained in position by said longitudinal members.

2;. :In fiume construction, a preformed plywood i member of substantially parabolic cross section, ribs externally positioned on said plywood member and conforming in shape to a transverse section thereof, one of said ribs extending beyond one end of said plywood member, and a second of said ribs being spaced inwardly from the opposite end of said plywood member, said ribs adapted to cooperate with a like formed. plywood member to provide a lap between said members.

3. In fiume construction, a preformed plywood member of trough-like form, a liner within said plywood member, a member having overhanging lips longitudinally extending along the edges of said plywood member, and said liner engaging said lips for maintaining the same in working relationship to the plywood member. 1

4. In fiuirne construction, a preformed plywood member of trough-like form, ri-bs encircling the outer surface of said plywood member, one of said ribsspaced inwardly from an end thereof and a second of said ribs extending beyond the opposite end of said member, said ribs adapted to be in abutting relationship with contiguous ends of like formed plywood members, supports for said ply- 'wood members in engagement with said ribs, and means for securing the supports in working relationship to maintain the said ribs in abutted engagement.

5. In fiume construction, a preformed plywood member of substantially parabolic cross section, ribs externally positioned on said plywood memher and conforming in shape to a transverse section thereof, one of said ribs extending beyond one end of said plywood member and a second of said ribs being spaced inwardly from the opposite end of said plywood member, said ribs adapted to cooperate with a like formed plywood member to provide a lap between said members, and means whereby the ribs forming said lap may be locked in working relationship.

WINFRED E. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

:Veneers and Plywood, by Knight and Wulpi. Page 130. Published by Ronald Press in 1927. 

